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Angels of mercy or development diplomats? : NGOs & foreign aid

Is the world witnessing a global associational revolution spearheaded by development non-governmental organizations (NGOs)? Is the relationship between states and societies being more fundamentally redefined, even in remote, rural corners of the world? What role does the mushrooming of development NGOs play in this political-ideological process? What about NGO staff? Are they angels of mercy, government-paid development diplomats, propagandists for a triumphant West, or instruments in a coming clash between civilizations? Presented here are cases from Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Bangladesh and Nicaragua that shed light on these complex questions. The text puts forward a critique of central theories and concepts which have dominated research and discourse on development NGOs. It also proposes and demonstrates some different analytical approaches. -- Publisher description.Read more...

1. In Search of the Development NGOs --
2. Why do Development NGOs Exist? --
3. How to Analyse an NGO Scene-I: Some Alternative Perspectives --
4. How to Analyse an NGO Scene-II: An International Social System --
5. How to Analyse an NGO Scene-III: The Norwegian Sub-System --
6. NGOs and the 'Articles of Faith' --
7. NGOs at 'The End of History' --
8. NGOs: Angels of Mercy or State-Financed Development Diplomats?

Responsibility:

Terje Tvedt.

Abstract:

This text aims to make the study and discussion of issues surrounding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) better informed. The author puts forward strong criticisms of the central theories and concepts which have dominated research and discourse on development NGOs so far.Read more...

Reviews

Editorial reviews

Publisher Synopsis

'In this book Terje Tvedt aims to liberate the foreign aid scene from the normative jargon of the NGO community and instead to describe it in the normal language of social science. He succeeds. One of the most incisive sections in the book is the analysis of NGO language: the way in which the aid discourse simultaneously allows practitioners to communicate with one another and creates a common set of values among them. this discourse is vital, as "few phenomena in society rely more on image production and handling than NGOs" ... Image management is central to the NGO phenomenon in other ways too ... He goes further in constructing a wider sociological analysis of the whole NGO phenomenon. Most NGO staff will have got used to biting criticisms by now and will not find the analysis surprising. It is harsh nonetheless, the more so for being comprehensive and impartial, and also sympathetic to the ideals of the NGO movement ... Tvedt concludes that real partnership requires a philosophical change and the acceptance of cultural pluralism, allowing NGOs to be a plural, culturally challenging force outside the state system.' - Alex de Waal in Development Policy Review 'Une critique severe et tres documentee permettant de porter un regard plus acere sur un phenomene en expansion.' - Berangere Cagnat in Le Monde Diplomatique '... analyses the phenomenon in an original way be challenging many of the dominant beliefs prevailing in the discourse on development aid.' - Marko Ulvila in Journal ofRead more...